Band cleaning mechanism for continuous vulcanizing machines



July 25, 1950 G. D. MARCY BAND CLEANING MECHANISM FOR commuousVULCANIZING MACHINES 5 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed March 4, 1947 July 25, 1950G. D. MARCY BAND CLEANING MECHANISM FOR CONTINUOUS VULCANIZING MACHINES3 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed March 4, 1947 ,lv weraiar' July 25, 1950 G. D.MARCY BAND CLEANING MECHANISM FOR CONTINUOUS VULCANIZING MACHINES 3Sheets-Sheet 3 Filed March 4, 1947 Patenteci July 25, 1950 BAND CLEANINGMECHANISM FOR CON- TINUOUS VULCANIZIN G MACHINES Grosvenor D. Marcy,Newton Highlands, Mass,

assignor to Boston Woven Hose & Rubber Com- P Massachusetts Cambridge,Mass,

a corporation of Application March 4, 1947, Serial No. 732,255

9 Claims. 1

My invention relates to machinery for carrying out the continuousvulcanizing, molding or pressing of sheet stock such, for example, asrubberized belting, rubber flooring, thermoplastic materials, orcombinations of textile and plastic compositions. Machines of the typeto which the invention relates employ a heated drum on which bears aflexible steel pressure band, the arrangement being such that thematerial is fed between the surfaces Of the drum and the pressure bandand removed therefrom after having passed over a large portion of thecircumference of the drum. Such machines are discussed in detail inUnited States Letters Patent No. 2,039,271 issued to John M. Bierer onApril 28, 1936.

One important factor in the process carriedout on machinery of this typeis the character of the surface imparted to the stock by the operationof the machine. It has been found that the surface of the band whichpresses against the material rapidly become dull and foul with traces ofthe material against which the band has been pressed. In consequence thesurface effect imparted to the material reflects the condition of theband surface and is also dull, characterless and streaked. Aparticularly difficult problem has been encountered when the machine isused first upon material of one color and then upon material of adifferent color. The scraps r traces of the first material stick to theband surface and come off to some extent on the second material to formstreaks and spots which so mar the appearance of the material as toreduce its sales appeal.

The most important object of my invention is to provide apparatus bymeans of which the operating surface of the pressure band can becontinuously scoured and cleaned while the machine is in operation andso that a freshly scoured surface is always presented to incomingmaterial.

The most important feature of my invention resides in .the combinationof a motor-driven brushand means for automatically reciprocating therevolving brush across the surface of the band at a sufficient rate ofspeed to insure that no portion of the band escapes the securing actionfrom the brush.

These and other objects and features of my invention will be morereadily understood and appreciated from the following detaileddescription of a preferred embodiment thereof selected for purposes ofillustration and shown in the accompanying drawing, in which:

Fig. 1 is a View in longitudinal :cross section through the entireapparatus, including :a view in end elevation of the cleaning apparatus,

Fig. 2 is a view in end elevation of the cleaning apparatus showing itdetached from the machine,

Fig. 3 is a view in cross section along the line 33 of Fig. 2,

Fig. 4 is a view, on a larger scale, showing the cleaning apparatus inend elevation secured in operating position on the machine,

Fig. 5 is a view partly in cross section and partly in plan showing themachine in its operat ing position,

Fig. 6 is a view in end elevation of a portion of the cleaning apparatustaken along the line 6-6 of Fig. 5, and

Fig. 7 is a view in cross section through the guide and clamp.

The machine illustrated in the drawing is representative of what may bereferred to for convenience as continuous rotary vulcanizing machineryand is organized about a pair of substantially identical skeleton sideframes I!) of suitably heavy steel webbing. Mounted transversely withinthe frames in and journalled for rotation is a large diameter hollowsteel cylinder or drum l2 carried on a shaft l4 and disposed adjacent anupper roller 16 and a lower roller I8, both smaller in diameter than thedrum l2 and mounted for rotation oil-axes parallel to the shaft M. Athird roller 2|) is mounted in the rear of the frame upon a shaft 22journalled in bearings provided with hydraulic pressure cylinders 24 sothat the distance between the shaft 14 and the shaft '22 may be varied.An endless flexible steel pressure band 26 is looped over the drum l2and about the rollers I6, [8 and 21! as shownclearly in Fig. 1 so thatthe band embraces a considerable portion of the circumference of thedrum l2. The material 28 which is to be vulcanized, molded, or pressedin the machine is led from a reel (not shown) to the bite of thepressure band 26 and the drum l2. The rollers and drum are rotated bymeans not shown, and the drum l2 and the band 26 are usually heated bysteam jackets or other means (not shown). The material 28 trav- .elsabout the surface of the drum 12, leaving it adjacent the upper roller46; then the material 28 follows on the surface'of the .band 26 over theroller It and between the frames of the machine from whence it is rolledup by any suitable mechanism (not shown).

ment with each other are two steel plates 30 providing anchorage for theends of a stout steel tube 32 which extends transversely between theframes. Each end of the tube 32 is filled with a block 34 carrying astud 30 passing through a hole in the plate 35 and threaded to receive anut 38. The nuts 38 secure the tube 32 rigidly to the plates 30. Aboveand parallel to the tube 32 is disposed a shaft 40 threaded intermediateits ends as shown at 42 and journalled in bearings i6 mounted in theplate 30. One end of the shaft 45 projects beyond the side frame I andcarries a pulley 48 for a V-belt 50 driven from a motor 52 which ismounted on a base plate 53 at the side of the machine. The threadedportion 42 of the shaft 40 carries a knurled nut 44.

A flat bar 54 spans the frames parallel to the tube 32 and the shaft 40and is secured at its ends to a pair of plates 55 secured to the framesI0. The bar 54 is located somewhat higher than the tube and shaft, andall three members are disposed beneath the bottom stretch of the band 26adjacent the rear roll 20. Closely adjacent the bar 54 and parallelthereto is a rod 53 mounted for axial movement in three bearings 50secured to the bar 54. Fixed to the rod intermediate its ends is a pairof spaced collars l28 and B0, while one end of the rod 58 is extendedbeyond the frame to receive a cam 00 which cooperates with a roller 62carried on the end of a switch arm 04, mounted on a bracket 55 arrangedto control the direction of the motor 52, and spring-loaded to be urgedinwardly toward the frame I0. The rod 58 may be moved axially to throwthe switch arm 64 from the full-line position to the position indicatedin broken lines in Fig. 5.

The cleaner is organized about a stout flat metal plate 68 from whichdepend three supporting legs I0 mounted at their lower ends on casters'I2 and in effect forming a dolly. A hollow steel housing I4 issuspended from the plate 58 and provides support for a motor IS carryinga pulley I8 with three sheaves for a V-belt 84 which passes about one ofthree sheaves of a pulley 82 mounted on the end of a spindle 00journalled in the housing 14 and projecting upwardly through the plate68. A flat steel disk 86 is secured to the spindle 00 by means of a nut81 and is provided with three holes for the re ception of stout pins 88each of which is surrounded by a compression spring bearing against thedisk 06 and against a second steel disk 94 in which the upper ends ofthe pins 88 are anchored. The lower end of each pin 88 is bored toreceive a retaining pin 92 which prevents a separation of the pins anddisk 94 from the disk 86. Screwed to the upper surface of the disk 94 isthe wooden back 96 of a circular wire brush 98, and it will be seen thatwhen the motor "I0 is turned on, the brush 98 will be revolved about theaxis of the spindle 80 at a rate according to the position of the belt84 on the sheaves of the pulleys I8 and 82. Mounted on one edge of theplate 68 is a pair of depending stationary jaws I00, spaced from eachother and secured to the plate 68 by bolts IOI. Each stationary jaw I00carries a pivot pin I04 about which swings a movable jaw member I02terminating in its free end in a U-shaped lug H0. The jaws I00 and I02are curved to fit the contour of the steel tube 32. Pivotally mounted inthe edge of the steel plate 68 is a pair of threaded studs I06 each ofwhich carries a threaded cap I08. In mounting the cleaning device uponthe machine, the stationary jaws I00 are fitted over the tube 32 and themovable jaws I02 are then swung up to engage the shanks of the studsI06, following which the caps I03 are screwed in until the tube 32 islocked to the plate 08. The clamps are dimensioned to permit the plate68 to slide back and forth on the steel tube as a guide; that is to say,the jaws do not grip tightly.

. A third stationary jaw I I2 is secured to the upper side of the plate68 and carries a pivoting jaw II4 which carries at its free end aU-shaped lug dimensioned to fit the shank of a pivotally mounted studIIB carried by the edge of the plate 68 and receiving a threaded cap H8.The upper jaw is dimensioned to engage the nut 44 on the shaft 40 and togrip it tightly so that the nut cannot turn with the shaft. The otherend of the plate carries a lug I20 to which a dog leg link I22 ispivotally mounted. The link I22 carries at its free end a roller I24having an upstanding rim or shoulder I26. After the clamps have beenengaged on the tube 32, the housing 14 is swung upwardly until theroller I24 slips over the top of the flat bar 54, and the upper clamp H4is then secured about the nut 44. In this position the wire brush 98bears against the lower surface of the pressure band 20. The bearings 56for the cam shaft 58 are so dimensioned that the roller I24 does notencounter them, but the rim I20 will strike against the collars I28 andI30.

In operating the device the motor 52 is started which turns the shaft 40forcing the nut 44 in one direction or the other. The plat 68 and thehousing I4 are carried with the nut, the clamps on the tube 32 fittingloosely enough to permit easy sliding. The roller I24 rolls on the uppersurface of the flat bar 54 until the rim I25 encounters one of thecollars I28 or I30. At that time the cam shaft 58 is pushed in onedirection or the other to change the position of the switch arm 04 andreverse the motor 52. This starts the shaft 40 turning in the oppositedirection and the plate and its associated mechanism are carried back inthe opposite direction until the rim I26 again operates the cam shaft 58to reverse the direction of movement. The collars I28 and I30 may beadjusted to vary the length of the cleaning strokes.

When the motor I6 is turned on, the brush 9% revolves at about 300 R. P.M. and scours and polishes the surface of the pressure band 26. It willbe understood that the band 26 moves very slowly. I have found itsatisfactory to adjust the speed of reciprocation of the brush 98 sothat any given point on the surface of the band is secured three timesbefore it passes through a space equivalent to the diameter of thebrush.

The scouring is aided by the fact that the band is heated, and theresult is a surface polish of high luster. As will be apparent from aninspection of Fig. l, the pressure surface of the band is secured afterit leaves the drum and before it returns to the drum so that no portionof the stock is acted on by a dirty portion of the band surface. I havefound that a wire brush is quite satisfactory, although I mayalternatively employ a pad of steel wool, emery cloth, or any othersuitable scouring or polishing material. Also I may impregnate ascouring pad with any suitable cleansing solution, detergent, orabrasive.

The disposition of the guide 32 and the bar 54 is such that the plate 68is substantially parallel to the portion of the band above it. Thus thebrush 98 bears evenly on the band. The

;....springs 90, however, provide a yielding support for the brush,permitting the brush to accommet-me itseIi'tothesurfac'eof the band andthus to compensate for slight changes the angle of the band-due to'movement er the tension roll 20 which is always under hydraulicpressure.

It will be apparent that the band-scouring mechanism, when in operativeposition, is suspended from the tube 32 and the bar 54. The legs andtheir casters 12 provide convenient means for trundling the cleaner toand from a machine and facilitate the operation of changing the brush oradjusting'the speed thereof.

Itwill'tl'ius be seen that 1 have provided a power driven band scouringmechanism located in contactwith the active face of the pressure band asit approaches the drum, in combination with powereoperated meansfo'rtraversing the securi'ng mechanism across the pressure band. Thescouring tool, moreover, is yieldingly supported for universaladjustment in respect to the band and so operates with a uniform degreeof pressure regardless of variations in the angle of the band travel.

The improvement in the quality of the surface of the stock which isoccasioned by the use of the cleaning or scouring mechanisms hereindescribed is most important. The stock comes out of machines with abright lustrous surface, extremely attractive to the eye and the effectnot only lends an air of quality to belting and similar products, butalso materially increases the salability of such products as flooring.Furthermore a machine equipped with the cleaning mechanism of myinvention may be used to operate on stock materials of different colorsin rapid succession without any necessity for stopping the machinebetween runs to clean or prepare the band surface.

The particular mechanism shown in the drawing is one which has provedeminently satisfactory in service, but is only one example of anembodiment of the invention.

Having now disclosed my invention what I claim as new and desire tosecure by Letters Patent of the United States is:

1. In a press including a frame and an endless pressure band movablealong a predetermined path in the frame; a band cleaner comprising aguide spanning the frame adjacent one portion of the band path, a plateslidably mounted on the guide, a brush-driving mechanism secured to theplate, a brush driven by said mechanism and mounted in position to bearon the band, and a reversible motor-driven mechanism for reciprocatingthe plate, brush and brush-driving mechanism on said guide within theframe.

2. In a press including a frame and an endless band movable along apredetermined path in the frame; a band cleaner comprising a guidespanning the frame adjacent the band, a threaded shaft journalled in theframe parallel to the guide, a nut threaded on said shaft, a housing, afirst clamp mounting said housing to slide on said guide, another clampsecuring said housing to said nut, a motor driven spindle journalled insaid housing, a brush secured to said spindle in position to bear onsaid band, a reversible motor arranged to drive the threaded shaft andslide the housing along the guide, a switch controlling the direction ofthe motor, and means operated by the housing to throw the switch everytime the housing approaches one end of the guide.

3. In a press including a frame and an endless pressure band movablealong a predetermined path in the frame; a band cleaner comprising aguide spanning the frame adjacent to the path or the band andat :rightangles thereto, a motor.

mounted-to slide on -the guide, a brush driven by said motor and bearingon. the band, and an electro-inechanioal train for sliding said motor.and brush to and fro on-saidguide.

4. In a rotary vulcanizing machine including a revolving drum, and anendless pressure band movable-over a portion of the periphery of thedrum, a band cleaner comprising a guide dispos'edtransversely to oneportion of the path of. the band, a housing slidably mounted on theguide; a first motor supported by the housing, a spindledr-iv'enby themotor, a brush carried by the spindle-and disposed to bear on theband, asecondmotor, a mechanical train driven by the second motor and arrangedto slide the housing-on the guide, a switch controlling the direction ofthe second motor, and a cam controlling the switch and actuated by themotion of the 7 housing.

5. In a press including a frame and an endless pressure band movablealong a predetermined path in the frame; a band scourer comprising aguide spanning the frame and disposed transversely to one portion of thepath of the band, a bar spanning the frame parallel to the guide, a camshaft mounted adjacent and parallel to the bar, a housing mounted toslide on the guide and the bar, a rotary scourer mounted in the housing,a motor-driven mechanical train for sliding the housing along the guideand bar, a switch controlling the direction of the motor, a cam securedto the cam shaft and actuating said switch, and means on the housing foroperating the cam shaft.

6. In a press including a frame and an endless pressure band movablealong a predetermined path in the frame; a band cleaner comprising a barspanning the frame, a housing, a roller secured to the housing andbearing on the bar, motor-driven means for moving the housing along thebar, a rotary scourer mounted in the housing in position to bear on theband, a switch controlling the direction of the motor, a cam shaftslidably mounted adjacent the bar, a spaced pair of collars adjustablysecured to the cam shaft in position to be struck by said roller, and acam mounted on the cam shaft in position to control said switch.

7. In a machine for vulcanizing or curing a continuous Web of sheetstock and including in its structure a heated drum and a metallicpressure band supported on the circumferential surface of the drum andguided thereto from beneath, and a guide roll about which the bandpasses and reverses its direction of movement in approaching the drum;power driven band-scouring mechanism located in contact with thedrumengaging surface of the pressure band as it approaches said guideroll, said mechanism including a scouring tool having a yielding andselfadjusting mounting permitting the tool to accommodate itself toangular variations in the position of the pressure band, spaced memberssupporting said mechanism for straight line movement transversely of theband, and power operated means for bodily reciprocating the scouringmechanism on said members.

8. In a press including a frame and an endless pressure band movablealong a predetermined path in the frame; two supporting members spanningthe frame adjacent to the band, one supporting member consisting of atube and the other consisting of a bar, band cleaning mechanismincluding a power driven brush suspended beneath, the band upon saidsupporting members,

7 9. clamp mounted on the mechanism and fitting loosely around the tube,said clamp being detachable from the tube, a link pivotally mounted onthe mechanism, and a roller carried by the link and traveling upon thebar.

9. In a press including a frame and an endless pressure band movablealong a, predetermined path in the frame; band cleaning mechanismsuspended below the band and including a rotatlng brush bearing on thelower surface of the band, the brush consisting of a, disk, bristlesmounted in the disk, a plurality of pins anchored in the disk on theside opposite the bristles, a second disk having holes through which thepins extend, springs surrounding the pins in the space 15 between thetwo disks, means for preventing the pins from becoming separated fromthe second 8 4 disk, and a driven shaft operativeiy connected to thesecond disk.

GROSVENOR D. MARCY.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file ofthis patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 208,272 Spencer Sept. 24, 1878379,068 Heller Mar. 6, 1888 889,507 Chambers June 2, 1908 1,967,964Miller July 24, 1934 2,0 9,271 Bierer Apr. 28, 1936 2,291,553 Mathy etal June 28, 1942 OBrien et al Apr. 25, 1944

